Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble has told republicans it was time they realised there was a price to pay for reneging on their promises.
Speaking at a press-conference after his motion was passed by the Ulster Unionist Council on Saturday, Mr Trimble said the onus was now on Sinn Fein and the IRA to deliver on decommissioning if they wanted the institutions to continue.
The 819 delegates present voted by 445 votes to 374 - 55 per cent to 45 per cent - to accept Mr Trimble's rather than Mr Jeffrey Donaldson's motion on whether and how to proceed in government with Sinn Fein.
Mr Donaldson had proposed a November 30th deadline for decommissioning, otherwise the UUP would withdraw from the institutions. Mr Trimble's motion placed the onus on Gen de Chastelain's decommissioning body to ensure steady progress on a weapons handover, which will be reviewed at another UUC meeting in January. Mr Trimble said his party had fulfilled every obligation placed on it under the terms of the Belfast Agreement and it was now up to others to do the same.
"We are saying to Sinn Fein: `Failure to keep your promises is not a cost-free option' . . .We have jumped first, we have given republicans every opportunity."
Mr Trimble said it would "probably take the application of very serious pressure" for republicans to move.
"Contrary to what they say, the republicans have only ever moved when they are under pressure," he added. The UUP leader said he felt Gen de Chastelain had the capacity to do a lot more than had so far been achieved.
"There is a general view that the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning should and could be doing more. They have done a little bit more in a very modest way with the most recent report. . . . I think John de Chastelain has the capacity to do all the things we want." Mr Trimble insisted any differences between him and Mr Donaldson were on tactics.
"The debate revealed the differences between Jeffrey and myself were essentially tactical. Jeffrey and his supporters were at pains to make clear they are committed to an Assembly operating on a cross-community basis."
The UUP leader said he had been considering the exclusion of the two Sinn Fein Ministers, Mr Martin McGuinness and Ms Bairbre de Brun, from North South Ministerial Council meetings for some time.
On the question of a moratorium on policing reforms, Mr Trimble said the Patten report was "predicated on peace, a peace which we ain't got.
"It would be utter folly for the governments to go ahead with measures that would reduce the strength of the police force or their capability in a situation where there clearly still is a threat."
Other senior pro-agreement Ulster Unionists expressed their delight at Saturday's result. Sir Reg Empey said the UUP should not "remain everybody's punchbag" when it was the republican movement which had not honoured its commitment that it would discuss ways of verifiably putting weapons beyond use.
The Environment Minister, Mr Sam Foster, said he was pleased with the result which proved there was confidence in Mr Trimble's policies among the rank and file of the party. The Arts Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey, said common sense had prevailed and called on the party to unite behind Mr Trimble.